Shuttlecock



April 4, 1939. HUDSON 2,153,251

SHUTTLECOCK Filed March 18, 1958 INVENTOR A Mzam'yer 1 /1/ 600.

@WJW- ATTORNEYJ Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHUTTLECOCK Cincinnati, Ohio Application March 18, 1938, Serial No. 196,748

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a game device and particularly to a shuttlecock for use in playing the game of badminton.

An object of the invention is to provide a means for protecting the feathered crown of a shuttlecock against direct contact with the surface of impelling implements or the playing surface whilst it is being used in play.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of regulating the speed and quality of flight of a shuttlecock.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel combination of parts for protecting the feathered crown of a shuttlecock and also regulating its speed and quality of flight.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification and drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a central cross-sectional view of my shuttlecock taken on line I---! of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the feathered crown in a contracted position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the shuttlecock.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the shuttlecock head.

The embodiment of my invention consists of a shuttlecock 6 having a head 1 made from a resilient material such as rubber or a rubber composition. The head has a substantially rounded portion 8 and a flat portion 9 and is preferably given the shape of a truncated spheroid. The lower central part of the head has formed thereon a rounded tip 10 whilst the upper end of the head has a circular rim ll disposed adjacent its flattened portion. The central part of the fiat portion of the head is provided with a vertically extending inset l2 which provides an added transverse resiliency to the upper portion of the head.

Positioned on and extending upwardly from the flattened portion of the head is a flared crown I3 which comprises a plurality. of feathers I 4. The shafts :5 of the feathers are embedded in the flattened portion of the head and are spaced equidistant from the circular rim II. The feathers are preferably fastened to the head by means of an adhesive substance placed between the head and the shafts of the feathers and also by means'of encircling adhesive tape l6 disposed about the lower portion of the shafts adjacent the flat portion of the head. The tape also provides a means of protecting and reenforcing the lower portion of the feather shaft, it being well known in the art that this part of the shaft receives the greatest strain when the shuttlecock is used in play and also is quite frequently subject to direct blows from the impelling instrument. An adhesive coating maythen be placed upon the tapes and on the fiat portion of the head adjacent said tapes. The 5 upper ends of the shafts are provided with protective adhesive strips H.

A band I8 is adapted to encircle the shafts of the feathers adjacent the flattened portion of the head and is provided with an adhesive sub- 10 stance on its inner surface which is in direct contact with the shafts. The band is devised to be vertically moved from a substantially inoperative position (Fig. 1) to an operative position (Fig. 2) to regulate the relative expansion 15 and contracting of the flared crown, the adhesive substance on the band precluding all vertical movement after the band has been moved to a desired position about the shafts. The band is devised to compress the shafts l5 of the feathers 20 toward a common center because it constantly exerts the same inward pressure on each of said shafts in all its desired vertical positions, including the position indicated in Fig. l. The band therefore serves to position the feathers 25 equidistant from the vertical center line of the shuttlecock, thus conducing to its true and even flight.

The broken line l9 in Fig. 1 indicates the position of a shuttlecock impelling instrument or the playing surface at the moment of contact therewith while the shuttlecock is moving in play. It will be noted that the circular rim H functions to protect the feathered crown from direct contact with the instrument or playing surface thereby increasing its period of usefulness, because the circular rim projects beyond a plane disposed to extend from the outermost rounded portion 8 of the head to the greatest circumference line of the feathered crown l3. The broken line 19 is indicative of the said plane and it will be understood that this plane is universally applicable in a similar manner to any portion of the circumference of the head and feathers. In other words, the rim projects to a distance beyond the circumference of the head so that when a plane surface comes in contact with the head and the rim, said plane will be removed from the greatest circumference of the 50 feathered crown. The combination of the compression band and the rim also insures added protection to the feathered crown for the rim limits undesired contact whilst the band urges the feathers inwardly away from further possible contact with the playing instrument or surface.

As aforementioned, the band is devised to be moved vertically to any rigid position to regulate the relative expansion or contraction of the flared crown l3. This relative action determines the speed of flight of the shuttlecock during play, the greatest expansion producing a slow flight, whilst the smallest contraction results in a relatively fast flight.

What is claimed is:

1. A shuttlecock comprising a resilient head of a truncated spheroidal shape and having a circular rim disposed adjacent its flattened portion, a flared crown for the head extending upwardly therefrom and comprising a plurality of feathers, shafts on the feathers embedded in the flattened portion of the head and spaced equidistant from the rim, and an adhesively treated compression band encircling the feathers adjacent the flattened portion of the head and adapted to be moved vertcially to regulate the flare of the crown.

2. A shuttlecock comprising a resilient head of a truncated spheroidal shape and having a circular rim disposed adjacent its flattened portion, a flared crown for the head extending upwardly therefrom and comprising a plurality of feathers, shafts on the feathers embedded in the flattened portion of the head and spaced equidistant from the rim, and an adhesively treated band encircling the feathers adjacent the flattened portion of the head and adapted to be moved vertically to regulate the flare of the crown.

3. A shuttlecock comprising a resilient head of a truncated spheroidal shape and having a circular rim disposed adjacent its flattened portion, a flared crown for the head extending upwardly therefrom and comprising a plurality of feathers, shafts on the feathers embedded in the flattened portion of the head and spaced equidistant from the rim, means for reenforcing the lower portions of the shafts, and an adhesively treated band encircling the feathers adjacent the flattened portion of the head and adapted to be moved vertically to regulate the flare of the crown.

ALEXANDER A. HUDSON. 

